Review – First Grave on the Right

First Grave on the Right, Darynda Jones

Received to review via Netgalley

I didn’t have high hopes for this, I admit, but what people said about it made it sound like some light fun.

Guys, this needs to come with trigger warnings. This review needs a trigger warning because it describes the problematic stuff. It opens with the main character having a sexy dream. Only it’s not just a dream: there’s some kind of supernatural agent behind it and it is actually a person who she knows. Okay… I’m a little dubious about the consent here because it sounds like he just jumps into her dreams and goes at it, but I’ll hold off. It’s clear she thinks she knows who the guy is and that she’s more or less okay with him having sex with her.

That’s fine, but I’m not along for the ride because it’s revealed later that they’ve met once before. She tried to help him in a situation which appeared to be horrific abuse, and he pinned her against a wall and groped her while asking if she’d ever been raped (read the scene quoted here).

THIS IS NOT ROMANTIC. THIS IS NOT LIGHT FUN. I DO NOT WANT TO BE HERE.

Now, I’m not judging people who find bad boys sexy or whatever, and maybe somehow all that is dealt with. But it didn’t look like it was being dealt with, and I was very uncomfortable.

Given the importance of sex and who likes whom to the apparent plot (which is otherwise jerky and felt oddly paced), it’s perhaps not a surprise I didn’t get along with it in other ways either, but… yeesh. At the very least, I’m shocked no one I know has brought up that aspect of the plot/characterisation/pile of problematicness before.

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6 Responses to “Review – First Grave on the Right”

I DNFed this book. As soon as it started with Casper the Perving Ghost I lost interest in it. After several chapters I just knew I was going to hate it. I totally agree with your thoughts on it.chucklesthescot recently posted…Chuckles Goes Shopping!

Wow, this is…different than what I was expecting to hear about this book, especially considering there are a pile of them in the series. I bought this a while back when it was on sale and I’ve been putting off reading it for a while now. After reading your review, I don’t know that I would like it all that much, either. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

I also DNFd. I didn’t like the plot or the characters, found certain things disturbing (as you point out), and just found it kind of cheap. But, on the other hand, I have a few friends — who are reliable, sensible people — who absolutely love this series. Maybe something gets sorted out or makes more sense down the road? I don’t know, just couldn’t bring myself to continue.Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies recently posted…Thursday Quotables: Guts: The Anatomy of The Walking Dead